Despite the challenges we humans are facing, Mother Nature continues to produce an abundance of gorgeous herbs, fresh veggies and fruits. In my mind, this is more than food: this is our medicine!
And no summer veggie says “vitality” quite like tomatoes. 🍅 Their tangy, bright red flesh is loaded with key antioxidants, like lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect the retina from the UV damage that causes cataracts and macular degeneration. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4636082/
Luckily, tomatoes are also rich in vitamin C, potassium, folic acid and fiber. A growing body of research has demonstrated that tomatoes help reduce blood pressure, as well a variety of cancers, including colon and prostate cancer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26830232/
If you’re looking for ways to use those gorgeous red gems, I’ve got a recipe for you. I fell in love with Greek salads when visiting Athens and San Torini long ago, and have been making “Greek Salads” ever since.
There’s just something about the combo of tangy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, red onion, Kalamata olives, oregano and feta cheese with a drizzle of olive oil that is both delicious and healing on a hot summer day!
NOTE: Unfortunately, tomatoes on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list, meaning they’re heavily sprayed with pesticides. So unless you’re growing them in your yard or getting them from your local Farmer’s Market, please buy organic tomatoes.